The property in Northport where a proposed RV park would be built if approved. Credit: Record-Eagle file photo/Andrew Rosenthal
The Timber Shores Camping and RV Resort planned for Leelanau Township, Mich., may be a little closer to development after sewer agreements for two former would-be housing projects on the 210-acre property were invalidated, according to the Record-Eagle.
Thirteenth Circuit Court Judge Kevin A. Elsenheimer issued an opinion earlier this month that declared the agreements from 1998 and 2007 do not apply to the resort now planned for the property on M-22 just south of Northport.
Developers now are waiting for approval of an amendment to the Leelanau Township Zoning Ordinance so they can again apply for a special use permit and site plan review for the resort planned for 80 acres of the property.
A permit to remediate wetlands also needs approval from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, with a public hearing set for March 1.
Walter G. Johnson, project coordinator for the resort, said a complaint for declarative judgment filed on behalf of Leelanau Township in October was a waste of time and taxpayer money.
“We’ve known from the start that those documents had no validity,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the project has already had several delays, including the pandemic that closed down the state one day after the original permit application was submitted in March 2020. The township also placed a moratorium on permits for RV parks and campgrounds in March 2021.
“That moratorium causes delays,” Johnson said. “You can’t delay this for more than a year and not have damages.”
The Timber Shores plan includes about 350 camping sites, a pond, mini cabins, putt-putt golf and staff housing. The resort will have its own wastewater treatment system as the township and village facility does not have enough capacity.
